CID called in to investigate alleged fraud

SGreenidge letterPolice have been approached to conduct a criminal investigation into alleged fraud by an executive member of the embattled Grenada Steelband Association (GSA).

A well-placed source told THE NEW TODAY newspaper that President of the association, Jason Skeete and two other executive members visited the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) last Thursday to lodge the formal complaint.

He said that the complaint made is that another executive member, Stephen Greenidge had created a different letterhead and logo and was using it to conduct business on behalf of the steelband association.

A letter on the new letterhead was sent to Skeete demanding that he handed over all GSA documents in his possession as he was no longer the President of the body.

GSA is currently engulfed in internal feuding as a faction involving some members of the bigger playing bands on the island were involved in a controversial move to remove Skeete as GSA President at a meeting held just over a month ago.

There are reports that Skeete survived the so-called “coup” on the grounds that the controversial meeting was held outside of the mandate of the GSA Constitution.

Jason Skeete – walked into CID to lodge complaint

The police officers were also presented with a note from GSA executive member, Alistair James in which he stated that he never gave anyone consent to use his name on the newly created GSA letterhead.

Stephen Greenidge – wrote the letter under a new and different letterhead

“If that is really so then it is fraud”, said a seasoned police officer who did not wish to be identified.

Skeete is known to have approached the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) to investigate a number of persons for the fraudulent use of monies given to the steelband association over the years.

The FIU is known to have opened a case against a prominent member of the Melville-street based Coyaba New Dimensions for questioning in connection with spending monies owed to the steelband.

Sources told this newspaper that FIU instructed the individual to repay EC$103, 000.00 owed to Dimension within a specific time period in order to avoid prosecution.

There are unconfirmed reports that GSA has been receiving in excess of EC$300, 000.00 a year in subvention from government and other forms of financial assistance from other donors.

Skeete has claimed that since taking over the leadership of GSA he has never seen any financial statement detailing the use of these monies.